Today's News

HILLSVILLE — The Hillsville church that had a hidden water leak over two billing periods received a $2,100 discount off its bill from the town.
Hillsville Pentecostal Holiness Church did not realize that someone hooked a water pipe directly into a drain for the sewage system.
This resulted in an outside spigot being turned on and running for a long time, creating a water and sewer bill that could have been as much as $14,323.74.

In 2007, the number of people who died on Virginia roads surpassed 1,000 for the first time in nearly two decades.
That grim toll marked a turning point. Traffic fatalities statewide have exceeded 800 only one year since.
Safety advocates point to a multitude of changes and trends in explaining the drop. Among them: stricter licensing for young drivers, anti-DUI laws, educational and law enforcement campaigns, increased seat belt use, safer roads and better vehicles.

A Ford Double Model A truck has carried a local antique car collector into the world of independent cinema, and he’s enjoyed the ride.
Tom Littrell’s love of antique vehicles has seen him take off on the cross-country Great Race, made him a partner in Old Cranks Museum in Galax and now garnered him a bit part in the production of “Wish You Well.”
The movie is a screen adaptation of the 2001 book of the same name by David Baldacci.

Catch the speeders
Instead of the State Police having so many road checks up here at Pipers Gap, they need to set out radar. They could write 100 tickets a day, easy. I wish the mailboxes were on the same side of the road as houses at Pipers Gap. People in Pipers Gap think this is the Indianapolis Speedway and it is dangerous to even go to your mailbox.

HILLSVILLE — Carroll County officials will seek public comment on the idea of setting up a volunteer force to work with the sheriff’s office.
The hearing will be at the board of supervisors’ November meeting.
The supervisors initially approval the concept at their September meeting.
Sheriff J.B. Gardner explained that the force would consist of veteran officers who have retired or those who have graduated from the police academy but haven’t found a job.

Hurricane Sandy.
The Frankenstorm.
The Snoreastercane.
Whatever you want to call it, the storm hitting the East Coast this week is a freak of nature, says Kevin Myatt, weather columnist for The Roanoke Times.
For Southwest Virginia, the merging of two extreme weather systems likely will mean high winds, heavy rain and possibly a record October snowfall.
Anything is possible, Myatt says, but the storm is bringing more tricks than treats.

HILLSVILLE — Conservation officials don’t want to stand in the way of Hillsville’s aim to control deer, but it’s not as easy as granting a town-wide kill order, said Department of Game and Inland Fisheries representatives.
Allen Boynton, regional wildlife manager, and conservation officer Ryland Cox gave the town options in addition to targeting deer by hunting, including going after deer on public property and the state issuing more kill permits to individual land owners.

FRIES — Family members of Samuel Joseph Sheehi are asking for community assistance in finding the missing Fries man.
The family is working with Twin County law enforcement to find Sheehi, who has been missing for two weeks.
Family members say 32-year-old Sheehi was last seen Oct. 10.
He is about six feet tall and weighs 180 pounds, with a medium build, blue eyes, and buzz cut blond hair. He wears oversized clothing and has several tattoos.

INDEPENDENCE — A legitimate contest or sweepstakes will never ask a winner to pay money in advance to get their prize, cautions Grayson Sheriff Richard Vaughan.
A local woman almost fell for such a scam, but a family member and the sheriff intervened before any money was lost.
The Grayson Sheriff’s Office is warning of a scam involving a sweepstakes award and pre-paid debit cards from Walmart.